Mirror having a portion in the form of an information provider

ABSTRACT

In a mirror ( 10 ) with a non-reflective portion ( 26 ) provided within its reflective mirror surface ( 22 ) as an information provider the portion is transparent and is backed by a display. The display has a moving image or has a colored image representation. Preferably at least one loudspeaker is connected to the display behind the mirror surface ( 22 ). That loudspeaker can also be connected to an input device.

[0001] The present invention concerns a mirror with a non-reflectiveportion provided within its reflective surface, as an informationprovider.

[0002] DE 299 16 732 U1 depicts as state of the art an advertisingmirror with a mirror layer which is semi-transparent at least in aportion thereof. In that advertising mirror in accordance with theinvention at least in the portion serving as the advertising orinformation surface, the mirror layer is followed in the direction fromthe outside of the mirror towards the rear side thereof by ananti-reflection layer, an advertising layer comprising a transparentflat material, and a lighting member of a flat configuration. Thatarrangement suffers basically from the following problems: thecommunication of information is limited to a stationary image or stillimage which is back-lit in the form of a motif carrier to beintroduced—for example a transparency—and in that way is renderedvisible to the person viewing same; exchanging the individual motifcarriers is complicated and difficult as, to introduce fresh motifcarriers or items of information to be communicated, the mirror has tobe open and the existing motif carrier has to be manually replaced by anew one.

[0003] With knowledge of that state of the art, the object of thepresent invention is to eliminate the recognized deficiencies and toprovide a mirror which differs in regard to previously known advertisingmirrors in the nature of and possible variations in the items of graphicinformation to be communicated, and which permits ease of handling whenintroducing and changing the items of information or the motif carriers.

[0004] That object is attained by the teaching of the independent claim;the appendant claims set forth advantageous developments. The scope ofthe invention also embraces all combinations comprising at least two ofthe features disclosed in the description, the drawing and/or theclaims.

[0005] In accordance with the invention the portion of the mirrorsurface, which is in the form of the information provider, is as clearas glass, that is to say completely transparent for seeing therethrough,and is backed with a display, an image viewer for optically effectivelypresenting objects. In particular that display should be capable ofpresenting a moving image. Two or more portions of that kind may also beprovided in the mirror surface.

[0006] The semi-transparent mirror layer known from the state of the artis therefore the subject of development in that a movingimage—preferably a colored image—is now produced within the actualmirror surface in that portion.

[0007] In accordance with the invention, a moving colored image is usedfor communicating information by virtue of that color display. In orderto keep the thickness of the mirror as small as possible, in accordancewith the invention a flat image display or flat screen is to be used. Ithas also proven to be advantageous to use a display of TFT or plasmatechnology type, but also it is possible to use other technologies formotif representation purposes, such as for example holograms forthree-dimensional image representation. In particular it is alsopossible to use a display involving touch screen technology which makesit possible to call up various functions and program procedures on thedisplay and also the representation of different kinds of images such asfor example television pictures, computer images and animation, anInternet surface and a multi-media surface, in the display orinformation surface provided for that purpose.

[0008] The inventor also proposes the communication of audio elements;the incorporation of at least one loudspeaker—preferably connected tothe display or another peripheral device for operation of the displaysuch as for example a PC, video recorder or DVD-player—makes it possibleto communicate audio elements such as for example music, a speechbacking or the like. The audio elements can be reproduced both alone andalso—preferably—in conjunction with the image information.

[0009] The form of feeding in information is to be considerablyfacilitated for the purposes of greater ease of handling, and it is tobe ensured that the mirror does not have to be opened nor does a personhave to be physically present in order to input data or fresh motifsinto the information mirror. For that purpose, the installed display andthe loudspeakers are supplied with the items of information to berepresented from a suitable peripheral device—once again a computer,video recorder, DVD-player, CD-player or the like. In order to changethe items of information to be communicated, it is just the insertedreproduction medium that is changed, that is to say for example thevideo cassette of the video recorder.

[0010] In general, a computer is used for operation of the display andthe loudspeakers, in which case the items of information and data to berepresented can be transferred onto that computer from another computerby data transfer—for example ISDN data transmission or othertransmission options.

[0011] The foregoing features mean that opening of the mirror is now nolonger necessary when changing the information or the motif, so that itbecomes possible for the mirror to be fixedly installed at suitablelocations. The change in motif can also be effected in the absence of anoperator.

[0012] In accordance with the invention, break-proof glass canpreferably be used for the mirror, and volume control for theloudspeaker or loudspeakers can also be effected by means of remotecontrol—for example infra-red control. In addition it has proven to bedesirable to install a radio receiver module for the graphic data or tomount the described loudspeakers outside the mirror and connect them tothe display or input unit.

[0013] That therefore affords a communication mirror of variable size ofa very flat frame structure, in which changing or replacing the items ofinformation is readily possible by virtue of a change in data carrier inthe input device.

[0014] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will beapparent from the description hereinafter of preferred embodiments andwith reference to the drawing in which:

[0015]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a framed mirror,

[0016]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the rear side of the mirrorafter removal of a rear wall,

[0017]FIGS. 3 and 4 show views corresponding to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2respectively in relation to a frame-less configuration of the mirror,and

[0018]FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the front of a mirror withadditional devices.

[0019] A wall mirror 10 of a length a for example of about 140 cm and aheight h of 80 cm has a frame 12 of metal or plastic material—possiblyalso of wood—of a width b of between about 3 and 5 cm.

[0020] The frame 12 is composed to two channel-shaped longitudinalprofile members 14 and two shorter transverse profile members 14 _(q) ofidentical cross-section—forming mitered corners 18; the rearward limbportions 15 of the frame profile members 14, 14 _(q) define a mountingplane for a rear wall (not shown in the drawing), while the front limbs16 of the frame members form a frame-shaped abutment for a mirror insert20 which is held within same in the frame 12.

[0021] Provided in the mirror surface 22 of the mirror insert 20 atspacings e, e₁ in relation to the adjacent limbs 16 of the profilemembers is an area 26 through which it is possible to see—having beenleft free for example upon chemical deposition of a backing or silverlayer 24—, the length a₁ of the area 26 being in this case about 30 cmand its height h₁ being about 24 cm, while associated therewith at therear thereof is an electronic color display 28; the latter is screwed totransverse struts 19 of the frame 12 which in turn are fixed at theirends to the rearward limb portions 15 of the profile members. Providedbeside the color display 28 in FIG. 2 is a cooling device 30—for examplea cooling fan—which is also mounted to the transverse struts 19.

[0022] Indicated at 32 above the display 28 is a control board whichpermits actuation of the display 28 with an external input device 50which is shown in FIG. 5, such as a computer, video, DVD, CD or thelike. Projecting from the control board 32 are a cable connecting plug34 for a cable 48—for example a cinch connecting cable—of the inputdevice 50 and a mains network connecting plug 36 for the power supplyfor the color display 28 and the cooling device 30 by way of theconnecting cable 37 of a power source 54.

[0023] The control board 32 is mounted to the transverse profile member14 _(q) which is adjacent thereto, and disposed opposite it on the othertransverse profile member 14 _(q) of the frame 12 in the interior 40 ofthe mirror is a loudspeaker 38 which fits closely against a region 42 ofthe frame 12—which region 42 is perforated or provided with a slot oraperture insert—and the loudspeaker is provided with connection elements44 for external devices. The interior 40 of the mirror is closed toprevent unauthorized access by a rear wall (which as mentioned is notshown in the drawing) comprising a metal, wood or plastic plate orpanel, and it can be opened by actuating a cylinder lock 46 of the frame12.

[0024] In the embodiment of the mirror 10 _(a) in FIGS. 3 and 4 the areaof the mirror insert 20 is larger than the frame 12 in front of whichthe mirror insert 20 is fitted; the latter projects beyond the edges ofthe frame 12 on all sides by a distance i.

[0025] In accordance with the invention the multi-media mirror can alsobe integrated into items of furniture, bars and counters, mirror-bearingcupboards or cabinets or the like.

1. A mirror with a non-reflective portion provided within its reflectivesurface as an information provider, characterized in that at least aportion (26) of the mirror surface (22) is transparent for seeingtherethrough and is backed by a display (28).
 2. A mirror as set forthin claim 1 characterized in that the display (28) is provided with amoving image.
 3. A mirror as set forth in claim 1 or claim 2characterized in that the display (28) is provided with a colored imagerepresentation.
 4. A mirror as set forth in one of claims 1 through 3characterized by a flat image display (28) or a flat screen.
 5. A mirroras set forth in one of claims 1 through 4 characterized by a display(28) employing TFT or plasmas technologies.
 6. A mirror as set forth inone of claims 1 through 4 characterized by a display (28) with hologram.7. A mirror as set forth in one of claims 1 through 6 characterized inthat behind the mirror surface (22) at least one loudspeaker (38) isconnected to the display (28).
 8. A mirror as set forth in one of claims1 through 7 characterized in that behind the mirror surface (22) atleast one loudspeaker (38) is connected to an input device.
 9. A mirroras set forth in one of claims 1 through 8 characterized in that thedisplay (28) is connected to an input device (50).
 10. A mirror as setforth in claim 9 characterized by an external input device (50).
 11. Amirror as set forth in one of claims 1 through 10 characterized in thatthe mirror surface (22) is part of a mirror insert (20) which isassociated with a frame (12), forming a mirror interior (40).
 12. Amirror as set forth in one of claims 1 through 10 characterized in thatthe mirror surface (22) is part of a mirror attachment (21) and same isfitted onto a frame (12) to form a mirror interior (40).
 13. A mirror asset forth in claim 11 or claim 12 characterized by a frame (12) whichdelimits the mirror interior (40) and which is connected to the mirrorsurface (22).
 14. A mirror as set forth in claim 13 characterized inthat the frame (12) is composed of channel profile members (14, 14 _(q))whose width (b) determines the depth of the mirror interior (40).
 15. Amirror as set forth in one of claims 1 through 14 characterized in thatthe display (28) is secured to the frame (17), possibly to strut means(19) which are associated with the frame.
 16. A mirror as set forth inclaim 7 or claim 8 and claim 13 characterized in that the loudspeaker(38) is associated with a perforated region (42) of the frame (12). 17.A mirror as set forth in one of claims 1 through 16 characterized by aradio receiver module for the image data.
 18. A mirror as set forth inone of claims 1 through 17 characterized by an integrated remoteoperating means for volume control, in particular an infra-red operatingmeans.